CANDLELIGHT AT DALLAS HERITAGE VILLAGE “Timeless Treats” is the theme for this 41st annual Victorian-style celebration, where you can experience holiday traditions and see cooking demonstrations based on menus and recipes from the late 19th century. There’ll be holiday exhibits, strolling carolers, characters dressed in period costumes, carriage rides, entertainment by local musicians, dancers and storytellers, and food and beverages available for purchase from food trucks and Calais Winery. Guests can meander through the village’s 38 historic buildings (circa 1840-1910) along candlelit pathways to see how pioneers and cowboys celebrated Christmas, have photos taken with St. Nicholas and take a ride in a surrey pulled by the village’s Mammoth Jack donkeys, Nip and Tuck ($5 per person) or ride the hay wagon ($3 per person). Proceeds benefit museum programs. Dec 8-9 from 3 to 9 p.m. at Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas. $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for children 4-12, free for children 3 and under. $2 off tickets purchased online by Dec. 6. $5 self-parking, $10 valet parking. 214-421-5141. dallasheritagevillage.org/candlelight. — Ellen Ritscher Sackett

Brave Combo

BRAVE COMBO HOLIDAY SHOWS The utter fabulousness that is Brave Combo must be experienced in person to be truly enjoyed. Sure, the 32-year-old group, a musical mainstay of the Denton-Dallas-Fort Worth triangle, has won two Grammys and made more than 35 albums (band leader Carl Finch says he’s actually lost count, but it’s between 35 and 40-ish). But the Brave ones still get most of their buzz through word of mouth. Brave Combo started out focusing on attaching polka beats to songs from a variety of genres — “we called it nuclear polka,” Finch says. Through the years, BC has expanded its repertoire to include world beats such as salsa, Latin jazz, merengue, Middle Eastern waltz and other rhythms. Name a song, and BC can do it in just about any rhythm you could imagine, with results that’ll astound and delight. BC has four holiday shows in D-FW: Dec. 7 at Poor David’s Pub in Dallas, Dec. 8 at Arlington’s Christkindl Market, Dec. 21 at Bass Hall in Fort Worth, and Dec. 22 at the Kessler Theater in Oak Cliff. brave.com for ticket information for all shows. — Joy Tipping

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’ The Dallas Theater Center’s Christmas Carol does what any good Christmas carol is supposed to do: It assails you with tidings of comfort and joy. Dallas favorite Chamblee Ferguson as Scrooge is mean enough to play this meanest of old men, but he’s funny at the same time. Steven Michael Walters stuffs down his natural exuberance to make Bob Cratchit a beaten but eminently decent man. Director-choreographer Joel Ferrell has cast most of the other roles with ideal precision. This version of the Charles Dickens story takes every emotion — terror, sorrow, hope and joy — and amps it up to the max. Through Dec. 23 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. (entrance on Blackburn Street), Dallas. $15-$85, subject to change. 214-880-0202. dallastheatercenter.org. – Lawson Taitte

Christmas in the Square in Frisco (PHOTO: LK Photography)

CHRISTMAS IN THE SQUARE, FRISCO More than 175,000 lights blink in a free light show set to holiday music in this annual celebration. Other attractions include special activities on select dates. For the Dec. 1 Merry Main Street Celebration, which runs from 5 to 10 p.m., there’ll be the city of Frisco tree lighting, chances to see Santa, live reindeer, a train display provided by Spring Creek Model Railroad Club, entertainment from Frisco elementary schools, and carriage rides. The light show runs nightly through Jan. 6 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Frisco Square, Main Street and Coleman Boulevard, Frisco. The light show and Merry Main Street are free; $6 for carriage rides. For a schedule, visit friscosquare.com/cits. — Ann Pinson

Hundreds of Nativity sets are on display at the Dallas Arboretum. (PHOTO: Dallas Arboretum)

HOLIDAY AT THE ARBORETUM “Artistry of the Nativity,” featuring hundreds of Nativity scenes from around the world, is on display at the Dallas Arboretum’s DeGolyer Estate. Each Saturday and Sunday in December, there’ll be special activities from noon to 4 p.m., including photo ops with Santa, Rudolph and Frosty, and live reindeer. Holiday teas (reservations are required) and the 15 Dale Chihuly glass installations throughout the gardens are among the other attractions. Nov. 23-Dec. 31 at the Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. The arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Regular admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $9 for ages 3-12 (Chihuly Nights viewings cost extra and have different hours). Daytime parking is $10. Tea reservations: 214-515-6511. 214-515-6500. dallasarboretum.org. — Ann Pinson